助(す)っ人(と)

すけっと
noun
helper; reinforcement; hired gun
informalperson
1. helper; reinforcement; extra hand
A person who comes to help, especially someone brought in from outside to assist with a task, event, or team that is short-handed. Has a casual, friendly tone.
引(ひ)っ越(こ)しの助(す)っ人(と)を頼(たの)んだ。
I asked for help with the move.
人手(ひとで)が足(た)りないから、助(す)っ人(と)を呼(よ)ぼう。
We're short-handed, so let's call for backup.
友達(ともだち)が助(す)っ人(と)として来(き)てくれたおかげで、作業(さぎょう)が早(はや)く終(お)わった。
Thanks to a friend coming as an extra hand, the work finished quickly.
2. foreign player; hired talent (in sports)
In sports, particularly baseball, refers to a foreign player recruited to strengthen a team. Can carry a nuance of someone brought in specifically for their skill.
チームの助(す)っ人(と)として活躍(かつやく)した。
He played an active role as a reinforcement for the team.
新(あたら)しい助(す)っ人(と)が期待(きたい)どおりの成績(せいせき)を残(のこ)した。
The new foreign player delivered the results everyone hoped for.
あのチームは毎年(まいとし)強力(きょうりょく)な助(す)っ人(と)を獲得(かくとく)している。
That team acquires powerful foreign players every year.

A casual, colloquial word for someone brought in to help. The word likely derives from 助(すけ) (help) with the suffix っ人(と) (person), though the exact etymology is debated.

Common collocations

Usage

In everyday life, used warmly to refer to someone helping out at events, with moving, or at busy workplaces. In sports journalism, the term is standard for foreign players, especially in baseball.

general
Added 2026.3.29 6:13 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
20000/20330_suketto